- Some heirloom tomatoes resist late blight, others not so much.
- Overweight or obese Americans at 68%, and holding steady. No epidemic, say free-thinkers.
- “No wonder kids are gaining weight.” But they aren’t, see above. (Where’s that sarc-mark when you need it?)
- Hydroelectric scheme to save Ifugao rice terraces, cut carbon emissions. W-w-w?
- Climate Change and Agrobiodiversity updates us on hot policy news. Thanks.
- IFAP updates its farmers on agricultural biodiversity. Thanks again.
- Small oats genebank evaluations make big progress with young crofters.
- Yam festivities in the Philippines.
- Psst, you want drought insurance for your camel herd? Oh, and Jeremy wants to know why this IFPRI stuff didn’t find its way into the story.
- “The ability to roam freely enables people and animals to exploit or avoid a wide range of natural and manmade habitats.” Still no cure for cancer.
- Barley helps wheat. But how, exactly? I think we should be told.
- Fiji sets up breadfruit genebank Which will hopefully help local agricultural entrepreneurs.
- Anastasia on introgression. At length.
- The biggest urban farm in Europe.
- A bite of Cheese(monger).
- Coconuts bad for birds bad for soil bad for plants bad for crabs. Ok then, let’s cut the damn things down, shall we?
- Cockney cuisine takes a turn for the worse. Well would you Adam and Eve it?
- Egyptian cat temple pix. Miaow.
- “…the first biofuel crop breeding programs for low-input systems are likely to accelerate progress by focusing on grass–legume bicultures.”
- And another from the Land Institute: “…harvested perennial
grasslands provide valuable ecological benchmarks for agricultural sustainability.”
Unseemly as it is …
… to brag, we just have to.
Tim Bray, an internet seer, offered a definition of something he called a Power Web Site.
So, having nothing better to do over lunch, I took a little peek. And guess what? The Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog is a Power Web Site.
How gratifying.
Backyard livestock, what is it good for? Asthma!
A fascinating post from our friends over at The Ethicurean makes the case for backyard livestock as a valuable component of making life dirtier so as to avoid the diseases of cleanliness. Marc R. writes:
[R]ecent science is hinting that early childhood exposure to domestic animals can actually protect against the chronic condition [of asthma], so well-cared-for backyard animals like chickens or miniature goats could actually have an additional, unexpected benefit.
Marc goes on to summarize (and link to) various threads that address the “hygiene hypothesis,” a good starting point for anyone who wants to learn more about the possibility of strengthening the immune system by offering it a few more friendly sparring partners. To which I would add Seth Roberts on fermented foods, although the links to health take a little hunting down.
Gassing about beans
As the West and Central Africa Bean Research Network (WECABREN) regional meeting began today, the air was thick with expectation of improving ways to intensify bean production in the region, despite the expected effects of climate change.
I’ll bet it was. Read more here at the CIAT blog.
Nibbles: Dogs dedomesticated, coffee, climate change squared, Rice. Carnival
- Dogs live wild run free in Moscow.
- Climate change and coffee. CIAT rules.
- “Reasons to be optimistic”: Jarvis on Copenhagen.
- “The meeting did deliver”: DFID blogger on Copenhagen.
- Jazzman rice. Say it loud, it’s Murcan and proud. h/t James.
- Scientia Pro Publica, the blog carnival, is up, with added capuccino madness